Community Acceptance of Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Flood Risk Management - Survey and Focus Group Data, 2022-2023

This study aimed to understand what factors influence community acceptance of nature-based solutions (NbS) for coastal flood risk management. Coastal communities are already experiencing the impacts of sea level rise and more frequent storm events on property, infrastructure and livelihoods and accelerated coastal erosion. Various adaptation approaches exist, varying from hard engineering solutions to NbS, but whether these strategies are implemented often depends on social acceptance by local communities. This study is part of a large interdisciplinary NERC-ESRC funded project Resilient Coasts: Optimising Co-Benefit Solutions (Co-Opt) 2021-2025.

To pinpoint what influences community acceptance of NbS for flood risk management in the UK, we employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods research design. We also used a case study approach focusing on four sites in the UK - St Andrews (Scotland), Airth (Scotland), Hesketh Bank (England), and Pensarn (Wales). The sites were selected to demonstrate a range of socio-demographic characteristics and baseline conditions, with a selection of coastal management solutions varying from “grey” to “green” that are already in place or could be implemented in the future.

Firstly, we operationalised a questionnaire survey to identify values, norms and perceived trust that influence social acceptability in each case study site. The survey respondents were randomly selected from AddressBase Core product by the Ordnance Survey for each case study site and conducted from May 2022 to October 2023. A postcard introducing the survey with a QR code and a link to a Qualtrics online survey was sent first, followed by a printed copy with a pre-paid envelope two weeks later. A final reminder postcard was with a QR code and link to a Qualtrics online survey was sent 2-4 weeks later. In total 328 complete and valid responses were received (13.40% response rate).

Secondly, focus group discussions were conducted to elaborate on the initial quantitative findings. In total, seven focus groups were hosted in the case study sites one in St Andrews and two in the rest of the three sites Airth, Hesketh Bank and Pensarn. Participants included interested and/or affected groups such as landowners, farmers, business owners, local councillors and representatives from local risk management authorities and environmental organisations.
The mixed methods approach worked via quantitative data suggesting the strength and patterns of relationships, and qualitative data suggesting the nature and mechanisms of causal relationships.

The results show that community acceptance is place-based and is influenced by the context, with certain factors being site specific. The study highlights the complexity of community acceptance of NbS for coastal flood risk management, indicating that local perceptions are influenced by a combination individual factors such as trust; the characteristics of schemes; and they ways in which governance systems interact with local communities.